Food grater



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. D. RICHARDS FOOD GRATER Aug. 24, 1948.

Filed oct. 27, 1947 Patented Aug. 24, 1948 UNITE-.D F Fien? Fool) GRA'rE-n Lillian nennis'meharaewashington, n.. c. Applieationsoctobrtzi, 1947, iSerial No.- 782,285

ecleims.; (ci. 14s-iso) This."invention-A relates to a food fgratenswhich.

is. .i1'1tended.rforf use 'in1 a; kitchenioruotherffplace' where ifoodwis preparedeandit is lone:objeet-0f the imfentionntol provide latgrater.souformed that itnmaywbe mounted ,across the Atop of ran'ofpenbowl orfzpanzor yl'leldfiupright upon a fla-t boardrorfmetal sheet with* vone. handfwhile ff ood .is grated with the other: handz.-

Another-:object fofl the :invention is tol :prov-ide. agfood-graterfformed ofvsheet metal and carrying securingmembers alongdts. sides, which `soinount.- ede thatntheygmayfbe movedinto,.position ito grip side portions .oiaabowleor pari` vwhen tl'iegrater is-in;use.and.ltl1us. make -itunnecessaryto manu-. ally lholdf. theffg-rater. vin :placelin order to prevent. it frOrnsslipping@oit:ofltheploovvl ,or :.panl..v

Au'intheii'objec-:tfofv -the inventionais to so ,form and mount the securing members, that theymay. be `folded-' flat.l against thehun-den; face.. ofthe grater where they will be out of the way andallow the fgraterltobeplaced inf-.a drawer of atable togetherwith knives sand other, kitchen implements4 and readily. removed 'whenlneeded .wltl'ioutfnef4 coming entangledffwith the othery implements .in

thefdrawer;

Anotherf obj ectxof -the -invention is to` .provide a;.-igrater. havingcutters so:fformedln-that:V when the grater: is? irr use r food :will x.bee-formed. intoY flakes. of-.--.substantiallyfthe same :size-` and :thus produce.V a aky mass oi grateddood material..which-willleeY freewfrom lumps-land attraetivelin 1.appearance when usedimc-makingy asalad or 2the likef.`

Anotherf' object Tof, :the -inventionnisato -prrwide` angraten-z having; cutters.arranged-dn a -mass zlo-` cateclafinr such spaced -srelationrto` margins-opine sheetfl: metalzlbodywo the 11g-rater. that.- when- .lthe graterliszlin use, Yall Joffthe .flakedmaterialeormedwill drop :r into la szbowl fori. other. receptacle. upon which; the -zgraterf is lmounted: and ,thus: prevent. waste;l of fthe-lggratedmateriala AnotherYob'jeetfnoffftlre inventionA is `to so-locate` thea'mass off; cutters; that .-.whenethe gratter.

isfheldeuprightr for fuse;I i its 'upper -l'portionfmalffrloe graspedwand firmly.:y held .withoutflikelihood l:of "a personswngers y.beingi scratch-edI or: otherwisesine juredt l The invention is illustrated in theaeccvrnpanyjav ingldrawingsiiwherein:.1:

Figi. liseal'topzpla VieW-'ishowfinggthe:improvedgraterappliedzato ..a-:Azbowlf inrpositionf: i or use-- 'Figs' 2 fis 1a.: sectionalzlviewr taken: .through-a the gratel-.fzand'ithetbowlclaldng; ther-line 12e-2 ofV ure' ll': l

Eig;l 3 1 is: a.' sectional, vievvi'5 takenw horizontally alngithe line- ..r -3 ofzFgure-Q.

2 l. Fig. 4 is-a View rshowingtlfielgrater :anda-amena tionfof the boWll-inendlelevation.:

' Fig. "5: is a. ,similamview looking at; .thepoppsitel endbtthelgrateri:

Fig;v 6 is aevieweof thefgrateryshowing nits/gripe:- ping members zfolded; .algainst` its; runderwfaeel Fig; '7" is.l -avperspectiveevielwi ot. asragmentmofl onelend portiorn` of the; graterr.

. Fig .-.81is ailperspeetivezviewlowa; fragment ofiI the f other end .of the grater in top plan, a-numberfof :the cutters offthe- -grater-e Fig, 10-is.-a-sectionallviewwtakenf alongttheeline.. l-f-Hlfof 'Figure E9@ l Fig; llgis-a l sectional :Viewtakenralonggthellline l "Of 'Figure "9am,

Fig.; 12 is .a.view:` showingaa. modied :form l on graterf I This-improved Afoodfgratershad a bo.dy1l formed of stiffV sheet-@metalandE of-.fgreaterelength Ythan. widthpthe length-being; such thatfthefgrater mayY beiiset :fuponfia `lreeeptacleff"such as .a bowled pie, pani; or ytheflilireyandIextendmaeross theetopeofl the;I receptaele:a-.diametrically;;thereof.;l Oppositesideiedge fportionslof `thefmetal sheet from which. the. -bodyfyis formedY are vfrolledl to form sleeves e3 and'through-.these sleeves-gpassrodsele whichaare circular in cr oss.section so fthat. the; rods-may; be turnedfin .the sleeves:l The rods areoffsuch length.l that :j tlieygl projeet.- from. oppositeE endseofl the :sleeves and eaehrod-has one fend. portion leent to form arrns 5 fwhiclrr extend'firomv the rods..at rightr angles theretowandtat their-ends arelbent backen-ponthemselves to :form blunt ends lwfory the arms. The portionsofr thefrodswh-iohlprojeet from ,the othenendsY-ofe-tl'rev sleeves are ot-.greaterv length:- than; the. fend 'portions forming the arms orU legs Efand theseA end portions cfr-the rodszfare :bent Ato =r-form-` arms nl The arms `'l also;` vextend fromitherods: at right: anglesthereto and are 'of greateralengthfthan thearms 5, and Irefer-ring to Figures 2 and 7, it-will-be lseen that thefend portions formingethe arms f1 `are :crimped tof-form fingersi` which-project fromthe aai-ms inwardly thereofxin Ispaced-lrelationl ltoflends .ofthe arms; Thel fin-gers extend longitudinally ,on thegrater in .'-parallelrelation.. to .the Irods and areeofesuch length 4that l.Whentlie-fgrater. is applied toithe receptacle 7with.tlref-a1'.rnsf'.i and ','1 .extending down..- Wardly fromf ends :ofv the sleeves, the ,l a.rrns,5iwll have inneresidefportions in gripping .engagement with-theaouterw surface @of -the wall of vthe vrecepfl taele-ainlspaoederelationi..to. each Aother-v.circum-ier,-v entiallyT thereof and..ends of. thefngers 8,` will havegabutting l :engagement ...with portions of., the

3 receptacle wall in spaced relation to each other. The distance between the arms 5 and ends of the fingers is less than the diameter of the receptacle with which the grater is used, and when the arms at opposite sides of the grater are swung towards each other the receptacle will be firmly gripped between the arms 5 and ends of the iingers 8 and prevented from shifting transversely or longitudinally out vof position for use upon the receptacle. The' fact that the iingers are formed by crimping the end portions of the rods forming the arms 'I causes the fingers to have blunt ends which are rounded and will not catch or dig into extremities of the arms 'I project downwardly from the ngers 8 these arms and their fingers against other kitchen implements placed in a drawer in which the grater is kept when not in use.

Instead of mounting the grater across the top of a receptacle while it is in use it may be held in an upright or sloping position with its lower end resting upon a board kept in a kitchen for this purpose. When so used, the arms or legs will be left in the folded position` against the under face-'of the body AI andthe upper end portion of the grater grasped with one hand while the food to be grated is held with the other hand l and rubbed back and forth longitudinally of the the surface of the wall of the receptacle. Since may be gripped between a thumband finger of i one hand and the grater rmly held upon the to the grater with the other hand and rubbed along the grater longitudinally thereof.

The cutters 9 occupy a portion of` the grater in spaced relation Ato sides of the plate or body I and also spaced quite a distance from ends of the body and are arranged in rows extending transversely of the body, the cutters of each row being in offset or staggered relation to the cutters of adjoining rows so that when material to be grated is moved along the grater, flakes will be cut therefrom, for the full width of the material and the cutters of one row not interfere with action-of cutters in adjoining rows. The cutters are formed by stamping the metal sheet forming the body I, and referring to Figures 9, 10 and 11, it will be seen that when the metal sheet is cut and stamped there will be provided diamondshaped openings I0 extending longi tudinally of the body and each spanned midway its length by a blade or cutter of inverted U- shape. Bridge -portions of the cutters have their end portions tilted inwardly `or outwardly, as shown clearly in Figure 10, and formed with sharp edges so that as the food is rubbed along the grater in contact with the cutters akes will be cut therefrom, and these ilakes pass through the openings YIl) and fall into the receptacle. Since the group of cutters is spaced from sides of the body I and well away from ends thereof, all flakes cut from the food will drop into the receptacle and not be wasted by fallingv onto a table upon which the receptacle is placed or upon the floor of a kitchen. The fact that the group of cutters is spaced well away from ends ofthe body also eliminates vlikelihood of the fingers or other portions of a persons hand holding the food, from being scratched or cut by contact with sharp edges of the cutters. The grater may be used for grating cheese, hard vegetables, fruits, hard chocolate, potatoes, and other hard or relatively soft food articles and flakes are formed by use of the grater will be of substantially uniform size and free from lumps.

After the food has been grated pressure of the thumb and nger is removed from the arms 'I and these arms swung outwardly to rotate the rods and move the arms 5 and the fingers 3 to a position allowing removal of thegrater from the receptacle. The grater may then be thoroughly cleaned and put away until again needed. Before the grater is put away the arms are swung inwardly and upwardly to a vfolded position close against the under face of the tbody I, as shown in Figure 6, and referring :to this gure it will be seen that the arms or legs and the fingers will be out of the way and not be liable to catchl grater in contact with the cutters. Since the group of cutters :are spaced quite a distance from v'ends of the body',` the hand grasping the upper `end portion of the grater will not come in contact with Ithe cutters and not be scratched or cut receptacle while the food to be grated is applled by the cutters. .Y

In Figure 12 there has been shown a grater of a modified construction. In this embodimentof the invention the rods 4 are of greater length,` and bending of end portions of the rods to formv arms 5 is omitted. 'These end portions of the rods are straight from ends of the sleeves 3, to

their ends and uponthem are mounted arms or legs I I, which take the place of the arms 5. Lower ends of the arms Il are bent back upon themselves to form blunt ends I2 and their upper ends are formed with eyes or sleeves I3 through which the rods 4 pass. By so mounting the arms II, they may be slid along the rods until the grater had been adjusted to accommodate itself to the size of the bowl or other receptacle into which material is to be grated and set screws I4 carried by the sleeves I3 are then tightened to grip thel rods and firmly hold the arms in an adjusted position. f

Having thus described the invention.' what is claimed is:

l. A grater comprising a body lprovided with an loperative position for gripping opposite side portions of a receptacle and holding the grater inI position for use across a receptacle to a folded I position against the body.

2. A grater comprising a at body formed off sheet meta-l and provided with cutters and withy openings throughzwhich grated material passes, and rods extending longitudinally of the body l along opposite side edges thereof with portions projecting from ends of the body, said rods being rotatably mounted and having their projecting end portions bent to form-fasteners at opposite ends of the body adapted to have swinging movement when the rods are turnedand thereby movedv from a vfoldedposition transversely of the body close against the under face of the bodyto ay depending position for gripping opposite portions of walls of a container and holding the grater in place across the container in flat contacting enf gagement with the upper edges of the walls ofV 3. A grater comprising a body vformed of sheet metal and having Aopposite side edge-portions formed-with longitudinally extending sleeves openA at `their ends,. rods vextending longitudinally through said sleeves and rotatable therein .and having end portions projecting from ends of the body, end portions of the rods projecting from one end of the body being bent to form arms for gripping the outer surface of an annular wall of a receptacle in spaced relation to each other circumferentially thereof, and the end portions of the rods projecting from the other end of the body being lbent to form inwardly disposed arms having portions crimped to form fing-ers extending longitudinally of the body for extending under the adjoining end portion of the body in downwardly spaced relation thereto and having abutting engagement with the outer surface of the wall of the receptacle at opposite the side thereof from the lirst arms and cooperating with the rst arms to grip the said receptacle wall and rmly secure the grater in position for use across the receptacle when the arms are swung downwardly to an opeative position.

4. A grater comprising a body formed of sheet metal and of a length adapting it to extend diametrically across an open-topped receptacle having an annular wall, opposite side edge portions being rolled downwardly and inwardly to form sleeves extending longitudinally of the body along opposite sides thereof and open at their ends, metal rods passing through said sleeves and rotatable therein and having end portions projecting from ends of the body, the protruding end portions of said rods being bent to form arms at opposite ends of the body, the arms at one end of the body each constituting a handle for rotating its rod and simultaneously swinging arms at opposite ends of the body downwardly from a folded position in which they extend transversely of the body adjacent the under face of the body to a depending position, and fingers extending from the handles under the adjoining end portion of the body and cooperating with the arms at the other end of the body for gripping the outer surface of opposite side portions of the receptacle' wall and rmly holding the grater in position for use :across the receptacle.

5. A grater comprising a, body formed of sheet metal and having a portion cut and bent to form a group of cutters, the group of cutters being spaced from side edges of the body and spaced a greater distance from opposite ends of the body, each cutter consisting of an opening through the body spanned by a cutting strip of inverted U-shape projecting outwardly from the body transversely of the opening midway the length thereof to provide spaces at opposite sides of the cutting strip and having its bridge portion formed along opposite side edges with outstanding lips sharpened to form cutting edges.

6. A grater comprising a body formed of sheet metal and having portions cut and bent to form a plurality of cutters each consisting of an opening spanned midway its length lby cutting strip, the opening being elongated longitudinally of the body and tapered towards its ends, and said cutting strip being disposed transversely of the body and the opening and having a bridge at its outer end sharpened along its opposite side edges.

LILLIAN DENNIS RICHARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 555,834 Taylor Mar. 3, 1896 1,213,882 Kettell Jan. 30, 1917 1,633,700 Hawkins June 28, 1927 1,834,717 Knapp Dec. 1, 1931 3,5 1,915,869 Rowley June 27, 1933 2,049,128 McConn-ell July Y28, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 175,801 Great Britain Mar. 2, 1922 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,447,714. August 24, 1948.

LILLIAN DENNIS RICHARDS It is hereby certied that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 4, line 43, claim 1, after the Word and comma passes, insert and securing members carried by the body; lines 45 and 46, same claim, strike out securing members carried by said body and;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofhce.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of July, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommzssz'oner of Patents. 

